Spring plank



Nov. 9, 19370 R wlNSHlP 2,098,328

SPRING PLANK Filed Sept. 14, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 9, 1937. R. B.WlNSHlP 2,093,323

SPRING PLANK Filed Sept. 14, 1 955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jug? Patented Nov.9, 1937 iJhiiTED STATES PATEhii" 6 Claims.

This invention relates to spring planks for car trucks.

The spring planks most commonly used in car trucks today are of rigidconstruction from one end to the other, and as strains and stresses areimposed upon the spring plank, due to the adjustment of the truck tovarious track conditions, the rigidity of the spring plank will notallow it to take th strains and stresses without danger of breakage.

is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a springplank of novel and improved construction having suflicient resiliency totake the strains and stresses imposed thereon without danger ofbreakage.

The objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear fromthe following descrrption, made in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similarparts throughout the various views, and, in which,

l is a view in side elevation showing a portion of a side frame of a cartruck with a spring plank embodying the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken on 'hline 22 of Fig. 1, asindicated by the arrows; 3 is a view looking toward one edge of theplank shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

i is a detailed view in enlarged scale showin in plan one end of thespring plank shown Figs. 1 to 3;

5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5 5 c Fig. 2, as indicated bythe arrows;

is a View illustrating in plan one end of a modified. form of springplank embodying the invention;

rig. 7 is a vertical section taken on the line l-l of Fig. 6, asindicated by the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a view looking toward one edge of a third modified form of theinvention, certain parts being broken away to more clearly show theconstruction thereof;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken on the line of Fig. 8, as indicatedby the arrows; and

Figs. 10 and 11 are vertical sectional views taken in the same manner asare Figs. 5 and 7 through the central portions of two othermodifications of the invention.

Referring first to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs.1 to 5 inclusive, there are shown portions of a side frame [2 of a cartruck. This side frame includes the usual columns Ma and a tensionmember lZb having diagonal ribs I20 projecting diagonally upwardly fromthe spring plank seat adjacent and joining the columns I2a.

In accordance with the invention there is providcd a spring plank Awhich runs between the opposed side frames I2 01 the truck and rests atits end portions E3 on the tension members 52?) of the side framesbetween the columns thereof. The spring plank A like every othermodified form of the invention is provided with I The channels it and Elterminate where the can H tral portion it joins the resilient portions55 and these resilient portions are absolutely flat throughout the widthof the plank. To retain the end portions E3 of the spring plank A inplace on the side frames, so as to permit of but very slight lateralmotion of the spring plank relative to the two side frames, the springplank is provided with downwardly pressed cupped portions i8 adjacentthe inner edges of the side frames and downwardly projecting flanges i9adjacent the outer edges of the side frames. Also for this same purposeand to it the particular side frame i2 shown, the end portions 13 of thespring plank A are provided with diagonally, upwardly extending channels2% within which the ribs E20 are received.

Referring now to the embodiment of the vention illustrated in Figs. 6and '7, the spring plank B there shown like the spring plank A, isprovided with an elongated central rigid portion it, end portions l3adapted to be received on the side frames, and flat resilient portions15 joining the elongated central rigid portions to the end portions. Thecentral elongated por tion is made rigid by three longitudinallyextending upwardly projecting channels 2i and respectively. To hold theend portions i3 of the spring plank B in place on the side frames, dowelpin openings 23 are provided in these end portions through which dowelpins (not illustrated) mounted on the tension members of the side framesmay extend.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 8and 9, there is shown a spring plank C which, like the others, has aarcuate central elongated rigid portion [4, end portions l3 adapted torest on the side frames and flat resilient portions l5 connecting thecentral portion with the end portions. The spring plank C shown is ofgeneral channel construction and is provided with upwardly extendingedge flanges 24, which are cut away to form notches 25 at the edges ofthe resilient portions IS. The end portions l3 of the spring plank C maybe provided with any suitable means so that they will hold theirpositions on the side frames such as the dowel pin openings 26illustrated.

To show that various means may be used for making the central elongatedportion of the' spring plank rigid without departing from the scope ofthe invention, Figs. and 11 are shown. In Fig. 10, a spring plank D isprovided having an elongated central rigidportion I 3 provided withother types of upwardly pressed channels 2'. and 28 than those in theother planks;

The elongated central portion l4 of the spring plank E shown in Fig. 11,is made rigid by a1- ternate upwardly and downwardly pressed V- shapedchannels 29 and 30 respectively. It will be appreciated that there aremany other means that may be used for making the elongated centralportion of the spring plank rigid. It will also be appreciated that itis possible to equip the end portions l3 of the spring planks with meansfor preventing other than very limited lateral movement of the springplanks relative to the side frames, different from the means shown,

' and these means may be adapted for use with any type of side framewithout departing from the scope of the invention. 7

When anyone of the spring planks is in use, the resilient portions l5joining the elongated central rigid portion M to the end portions I3will take the strains and stresses imposed on the spring. plank due tovariations in track conditions as the truck rides over the rails. As theportions !5 have considerable resiliency, the spring plank can flex atthese portions thereof without danger of breakage, so as to allow eitherend portion 3 to move relative to the elongated central rigid portion l4and with respect to the other end portion it without stressing thespring plank beyond its elastic limit. The elongated central portion ofthe spring plank is made rigid as by channels, ribs, ,fianges or thelike, to stiffen thespring plank and take care of the column-action ofthe truck or vibrations. the spring plank as simple, light and strong aspossible to secure all the advantages of the invention and for thisreason the elongated central portion of the spring plank will preferablybe desired, the elongated central portion of the plank can be made'ofheavier stock than the resilient portions I5, without channeling,fianging,

It is quite desirable to make 7 grooving or corrugating the centralportion, to accomplish the same result.

It will be seen that a strong, durable spring plank has been providedwhich can be effectively used.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various partswithout departing from the scope of the present invention, which,generally stated, consists in the matter shown and described and setforth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A spring plank for car trucks having an elongated central rigidportion, end portions adapted to rest on side frames, and flat portionsjoining the central portion to the end portions, said flat portionsbeing resilient.

2. A spring plank for car trucks having an elongated central rigidportion, end portions adapted to rest on the side frame and resilientportions joining the central portion to the end portions, said endportions being equipped with means for engaging the side frames toprevent other than very limited lateral motion of the spring plankrelative to the side frames, said means comprising deformations in saidend portions adapted to engage with projections on the side frames.

3. A spring plank for car trucks having an elongated central portionmade rigid by ribs, end portions adapted to rest on side frames, andflat resilient portions joining the central portion to the end portions.7 4. A spring plank for car trucks having a channel shape in crosssection in its medial and end portions, the flanges of said channelbeing cut away inwardly somewhat from the end portions of generallyrectangular shape of the spring plank to form fiat resilient portions.

5. A spring plank for railway car trucks, comprising a substantiallyflat metal plate having end portions adapted to rest on the spring seatsof said frames, and an intermediate portion integral with said endportions, the portions of the plank where the intermediate portionmerges into the end portions being flexible, said intermediate portionbeing of substantial uniform width throughout and being provided withlongitudinal corrugations extending substantially from end portion toend portion of the plank, the opposite side edges of the intermediateportion being substantially parallel and being in horizontal alignment.

6. A spring plank for car trucks having an elongated central rigidportion, end portions adapted to rest on the side frames and resilientportions joining the central portion to the end portions, said endportions being equipped with means for engaging the side frames toprevent other than very limited lateral motion of the spring plankrelative 'to the side frames, said means comprising dowel pin receivingopenings provided in said end portions.

RALPH B. WINSHIP.

